World lit 1000 paper, you will need to read the online pdf of the famous story by Edgar Ellan Poe called “The Cask of Amontillado” (1847).
Instructions |
I would like you to read online the famous story by Edgar Ellan Poe called “The Cask of Amontillado” (1847). It is very short but make sure you have found the real story that begins thus: “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” Both Poe’s story and Hamlet rely upon the vengeance story structure. This structure begins early in human history and never fades away. In its most basic form, you are introduced to a crime very early story and to the protagonist who will pursue revenge. The crime is usually heinous, so the audience easily identifies with the avenger. The story will be a series of steps with rising tension that leads the audience to a climax in which the monstrous antagonist is taken down by the heroic protagonist. Cue cheers from the audience. If Hamlet and “The Cask” did nothing more than this, they would be buried away with thousands of other formulaic revenge stories. Each age loves the formula, but each age tells it with new lighting and new cast. So why do Shakespeare’s play and Poe’s story stick around (become classics)? A clue is in the length of each text. Shakespeare’s play is oddly and uncomfortably long, and Poe’s story is oddly and disconcertingly short. A secret to each becoming a classic is reflected in something equally disturbing about the length–Shakespeare insists on telling us too much and Poe insists on telling us too little. Hamlet’s length derives from a tragic hero who takes forever to get the job done. He delays and delays and delays. If we tolerate the play, it’s because we know it’s real purpose is to delve into who Hamlet is. His delays suggest his complex character. The opposite technique is that Poe fails to clarify why Montresor is going to kill Fortunato. We only have the vague words, “injury” and “insult.” So did he step on the guy’s toe or did he rape the guy’s daughter? If it’s a minor offense then Montresor must be over-sensitive and maybe crazy. If it’s major then the audience will be right there with him. So what do we do–admire him as the meticulous avenger or just find him really creepy? So we are left with trying to figure him out. Thus, both stories put the burden on the audience (it seldom wants a burden) to figure out a puzzling (or complex) character. I would like you to do a deep dive into these two characters. You might discover that in some ways they are what’s called “secret sharers”–characters who seem very different but have deeper affinities. What is Montresor’s reaction to family and to “insult”? How much is Hamlet responsible for wiping out an entire family (Polonius, Ophelia, Laertes)? Are these protagonists sensitive souls and cold-blooded killers? Can they be both? The standard reaction to a revenge story is primal: make the audience cheer about a killing. How do these stories use complex characters to elicit very different responses from the audience–nobody cheers at the end of either story. Same rules apply as on your previous essay. The essay should be at least 1000 words, double-spaced, but of course this time you hand it in online. Focus your essay on insights into the characters, thinking in terms of key comparisons and/or contrasts. I would rather you used no secondary sources at all; this will be the surest way of making sure you do your own work. You will need a works cited page with at least your two primary sources (the play and short story). I have looked over the variety of essay available online that do compare the play and short story. It’s most all crappy student papers that do not focus directly on character study of Hamlet and Montresor. Again, you’re going to be better off not even going there. If you get away with cheating, it’s not likely to get you a good grade and if you don’t get away with cheating, you may fail the course. |